B52 Two: Not Guilty
imc-uk-features | 27.05.2007 11:20 | Anti-militarism | Iraq
On 22th May 2007, the trial of two Oxford peace activists Philip Pritchard and Toby Olditch (known as the 'B52 Two') concluded with the jury returning a unanimous verdict of not-guilty in less than three hours [1] | [2]. The two were charged with 'conspiring to cause criminal damage' at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire on 18 March 2003 when they tried to safely disable US B52 bombers to prevent them from bombing Iraq. The court heard the two men acted to prevent damage to life and property in Iraq, and war crimes by the aggressors. During the trial the prosecution accepted that even delaying the bombers would have prevented civilian casualties, as it would have allowed those fleeing cities more time to escape.
Links: B52 Two website | B52 Two trial blog | Wikipedia on B52 bombers
On the newswire: the B52 TWO - Bristol Crown Court | B52 two in Bristol Crown Court | US War Crimes in Iraq on Trial in Bristol Crown Court | B52 two face retrial after jury fails to reach verdict | B52 disarmers on trial this week | Now It's The Turn Of The 'B52 Two' To Face Trial | Trial of the 'B52 Two' Peace Activists begins in Bristol Crown Court, 2 October | Video - B52 Two Vigil at Gloucester Prison
Further coverage: Bristol Indymedia | Schnews on the B52 two victory
The B52 Two in front of Bristol Crown Court
In his hour and a half summing up, Justice Crowther explained the legal tests that must be met for the prosecution to succeed, he reiterated the facts and summarised the evidence. A document 'steps to verdict' had been provided to assist the jury. Toby Olditch said "We're overjoyed, and thankful for the good sense of the jurors, for the wonderful support we've received, and for the commitment and expertise of our legal representatives. But hundreds of thousands of Iraqi people have still suffered as a result of the Government's actions. It shouldn't have come to the point that people had to take direct action to try to check the abuse of executive power." Phil Pritchard; "I am delighted that the jury have returned a unanimous not-guilty verdict. Our action in trying to prevent illegal attacks on the people of Iraq in 2003 is vindicated. I hope war of this kind never happens again."
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